mcmanus



C. E. McMANUS.

CORK ROD EJECTOR MACHINE. APPLICATION men MAY '23. 1921.

Patented Mar. 14,1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET C. E. McMANUS;

CORK ROD HECTOR MACHINE. AP PLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1921.

Patenfed Mar. 14, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- m ETfi W WWW therein to the accompanying rods intodisks of the 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. MQMANUS. 0F NEW'YQRK. N. Y.

CORK-ROD-EJECTOR MACHINE.

7'0 all whom'z't may 0012mm.

Be it known that Crmnniis F1. MoiJANUS, a citizen of the United Statesresiding at the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of:lew York, have invented certain new and usetul improvements in Cork-Fiod-Ejector Machines, o'twhich' the following is a specification,reierence beinghad drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to cork rod ejector machines, and more particularlyto a machine adapted to force composition cori: rods from within thetubes in which they are formed, the functioning of toe machine beingautomatic. 7

Cork rods to be ejected by a machine embodying my invention are usedextensively iii-the vi'oduction of sealing disks for bottle caps, .iubeing merely necessary to slice such equired thickness preparatory rseiubling them in the bottle cap structure. Such rods areiorincd bypacl-zing granular cork having thin tihn ot a suitable binder thereupon,in metallic tubes, which tubes and their contents, to Wit the closelypacked and cemented granules of cork, are passed through a vulcanizingorbaking oi en. As a result of the application of heat to the corkcomposition, the mass thereof will expand, but both ends oi? the tubebeing closed to check longation ot the rod in the tube, such expansionserves merely to supplement the packing machine in securing the desireddensity in the mass ot composition in the rod.

"iVitl'i this premise, the machine ot my invention is designed to torcethe completed rods from their inclosing metallic tubes with a rapiditywhich will give to the machine capacity approximating that of the bakerwith which it is associated, and without injury to the rods.

To secure the desired result, it is necessary to provide a machineembodying therein a pluiiger, the stroke ot which substantially eigualsthe length oi? the tubes containing the cork rods, and a suitableintermittently actuated feeding mechanism for delivering thetubesconsecutively, or in small groups with relation to the plungermechamsm. The rodsare fed to the machine in bulk, being accuratelypositioned with relation to said plunger mechanism, and intermittentlyadvaiiced in synchronisin with thetunction- Specification of LettersPatent.

' ejection of Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

1921. Serial No. 473,427.

ing of said plunger mechanism so as to cause each reciprocation of theplunger or plungers to eject each rod in a position where it be receivedby the operator of the machine, or delivered to some other mechanism, itdesired. 1 The end plug is removed theretroni immediately upon the therod or prior to the delivery thereof to the slicing machine.

The intermittent actuation of the feed mechanism must therefore not onlybe timed with relation to said plunger mechanism, but must besufficiently precise as to its quan tity of feeding movement toaccurately position the filled tubes and thus avoid collision betweenthe plunger end and the end of the metallic tube.

The receiving chute, or hopper, adapted to receive the packed tubes inbulk, is so constructed as not to require any accuracy of thepositioning of the tubes when feeding the machine, the mechanisms of themachine not only properly placing the tubes with relation 'to eachother, but shitting them transversely of the machine, when necessary, soas to bring them between substantially rigid walls having openingstherein for the passage of the plungers and for the movement of the rodsfrom the tubes, thus causing said tubes to be rigidly held againstdisplacement transversely of the machines, means being provided adjacentthe plunger mechanism "for preventing their vertical displacement.

The capacity of the machine may be varied according to the number ofplunger rods used, it being possible touse one or more plungers, asdesired, although experience has demonstrated that an operator can workto the best advantage when using two plungers. This capability ofvariation in the number of plungers, requires a selectively operativeactuating means for the tube feeding mechanism, or a variation in thespeed of said mechanism in direct ratio with the number of o'lungersused.

Since there is a slight tendency for the rods to adhere to the innerwall of the tubes, 1 preferably. provide a plunger mechanism which willbe so actuated as to start the ejecting action at low speed so as tobreak any slight bond between the rod and the tube, after which, thespeed of the tube is immaterial. By using a crank and pitman drivingmechanism for the plunger, I secure a slow start in the feeding movementof the .ed' to. guidesaid plunger, and permit the passage of a cork rodfrom a tube, respectively, while holding the tube against movement withthe plunger, intermittently operative feeding means adapted to.accurately j position the. tube with relation to said oppositelydisposed means, and means adapted to receive tubes and position themwith relation to; said feeding means whereby they will be successivelydelivered thereto; and in such other novel features of constructionandcombination of parts as are hereinafter set forth, and descr bed, andmore, particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

. Referringto the drawings,

1 is a plan View of a. machine embodying my. invention, a portionthereof be- .in bIO. i

en away and condensed;

l ig; 2 is a. front eleyation of the end plate at the delivery end ofthe machine;

Fig.

is a section on the line 2-3 of Fig. isa section on the line of tig, 5is a side elevation of a' portion of the feed chain;

Fig. 6 isja section on the line 6-6 of v Fig; 7 is; an end view of the.machine broken away and condensed;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8.-8 of Fig. I showing the actuatingmeans for the feedingmechanism whentwo plungers are used;

and y Fig. 9 s asect on on the l1ne9,,9 of Fig.

7, showing the actuating means for the. feeding. mechanism when but asingle plunger is used. t i I Like numerals refer to likepartsthroughout the several views. 1 v In the embodiment of my inventionshown inthe drawings, I employ at one end of the .machine, a hopperorchute having side walls 10 and; 11 and'an. open bottom containinginclined runways 12, the packed tubes being delivered todsaid chute orhopper in bulk and without regard to their-lateral position and beingadapted to descend by. gravity toward the bottom of, the inclined ways12.

.The-side walls 10 and ll merge into para lel guide walls 13 and 14spaced apart a distance substantially equalling the length oft-he.tubes, either or both of the side walls 10 and llbeing laterally pitchedwith relation to its co-operating guide. wall. 13 or 14 to, affordSufficient clearance in the chute or hopper to avoid the necessityforany accurate positioning of the tubes therein. l

i Vhile the tracks or ways 12 have a downward pitch, the guide walls1314 have an upward pitch, shown more particularly in Fig. 1; andterminate adjacent oppositely disposed lates or frames 15 and. 16, theformer-of which has a guide opening or openings therethrough for theplunger, 01' plungers, to be hereinafter referred to, and the latter ofwhich has an opening or openings therein through which the cork rods maybe ejected. The openingsin. the plate 16 should. be slightly largerthanthe inside, and smaller than the outside diameter of the tubes, sothat this plate will receive the thrust on the tubes resulting from thetendency; of the cork rods to adhere to the inner wall of the-tubes asthey are being ejected therefrom.

o-operating with the supply hopper or chute, is an intermittentlyoperative feeding mechanism consisting of sprocket chains 1718, thealternate links of which have outwardly projected fingers 19 so spacedas to permit a tube to be contained between succeeding fingers, whileaccurately positioning a group of tubes with relation. to each other andto the openings in the plates 1516, when a plurality of such openings.are used. Said chains pass" about sprocket 7 wheels carried by theshafts 20, 21 and 22 respectively, the shaft 22 being a driving shaft,and the other two merely idling shafts,

an arrangement which is merely a matter of convenience for closelyassociating the power for actuating the feeding mechanism with the powerfor actuating the plunger mech-.

'anism, and permitting both mechanisms to ower and time the be drivenfrom the same source of in synchronism, so as to properl actuation ofthe feeding mechanism with that of said plungers. The shaft 20 is uponav lower plane than the shafts 21 and 22 so as to cause the upper reachof the chain between the sprocketsupon the shafts 20- and 21 tosubstantially coincide in. pitch with the guide walls 13 and 14:.

The fingers 19 upon the feed chains 17 and 18- which are rectilineallyarranged with relation to each other, will. ensure the tubes containedin the hopper or chute being. fed one at a tinie'in properly spacedpositions, and will prevent movement of the. tubes from the hopper orchute except under the control ofthe feed chain, and one at a time.

Extending from the plate 15 are guides 23 having. mounted thereon. across head 24 carrying one or more plungers 25, one end of said plungeror plungers having a free sliding fit in the opening-or openings in theplate 15. Said cross head is connected with a gear wheel. 26, drivenfrom any desired source of power, by'ineans of the pitman 27, aconstruction which permits the starting of said tubes at low speed and aslowing down of the speed thereof toward the end of their stroke, thusavoiding any substantial compression of the cork rod within the tubeduring the initial application of the thrust of the plunger againstsame, and facilitating the breakage of any bond between the rod and thewall of the tube, although the composition of the binder employed issuch as to minimize any such tendency.

The tube feeding mechanism is driven from the shaft of the wheel 26 bymeans of the chain and sprocket mechanism 28, geared by means of theintermeshing bevelled gears 29 with a cam shaft 30, the number of. camsupon said shaft corresponding with the number of openings in the plates15 and 16 and the height of the rise of the different cams being indirect ratio with the number of openings. These cams are selectivelyopera tive according to the set-of the machine.

I have found in actual practice that the machine can be operated at aneffective maximum capacity when using but, two

plungers, although it is apparent that the number of plungers may beincreased, if desired, When but two plungers are used, the shaft 30 willhave thereon two cams 31 and 32, the-throw of the cam 31 beingapproximately twice that of the cam 32 so that with each rotation of thecam shaft, when the cam 31 is operative, the chains 17 and 18 will havea movement corresponding to the distance between the centers of theadjacent fingers 19, and when the cam 32 is operative, the movement willbe just twice that resulting from the actuation of the cam 31. Adjacentthe shaft 30 is a counter shaft 33, geared to the shaft 22 bymeans ofthe intermeshing gears 34, said shaft having mounted thereon two ratchetwheels 3536 having associated therewith respectively the swing frames 37and 38 carrying gravity pawls 39 and 40 respectively co-operating withthe ratchet wheels 35 and 36. By this construction the chains 17 and 18will be intermittently advanced by a rapid movement and will have adwell of suflicient length to permit the plungers to eject the cork rodsfrom the tubes.

lVhen conveying the tubes from the hopper or chute, slight flexibilityin the chain does not impair the efiiciency of the machine, but flexureof the chain intermediate the shafts 21 and 22 might result insufiicientdisplacement of the tubes with relation to the openings in theplates 15 and'16 to cause collision between the plunger or plungers 25and the ends of the tubes, notwithstanding that the diameter of theseplungers is determined merely by the desired strength of materialwithout regard to the inside diameter of the tubes, since the thrust ofthe plunger will be against the metallic plugs used to close the bottomof the tubes when packing same. Furthermore, the tubes may have atendency to rise as a result of vibration about the machine. To obviatethe above conditions, I provide above and below the openings in each ofthe plates 15 and 16, rigid horizontally extending guides 4l42 spacedapart a'distance substantially equalling the outside diameters of thetubes, the ends of which, if desired, may be slightly bevelled, althoughthe rounded surface of the tubes will ensure their passage from thechains to between the guides. These guides in conjunction with thesucceeding fingers 19 upon each chain will ensure the accuratepositioning of each tube as it approaches the position where theplungers will be operative thereon.

The plungers 25 are removably mounted in the cross head 24, so thateither or both of them may be used, as desired.

Connecting the plates or frames 15 and 16 are stay rods 43.

The tubes to be fed are indicated at 44 and the cork rods therein at 45.

The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially asfollows The tubes 44, before they are filled and packed with the corkcomposition, have in serted in one end thereof a metallic closure plug,the other end not being so closed. As the rods emerge from the baker orvulcanizer, the operator removes them from their supports and placesthem in the hopper or chute of the ejecting mechanism with the metallicplugs upon the side thereof adjacent the plunger mechanism. These tubeswill descend the runway 12, the laterally pitched wall 10 of the hopperor chute bringing any misplaced tubes into the proper position as theyapproach the guide walls 13 and 14. v

The chains 17 and 18 cross the plane of the runway 12 so that thedescent of the tubes will be arrested by engagement with said chains,and the tubes will successively fall into the pocket formed bysucceeding fingers 19 carried by said chains, and be advanced one at atime or in groups of two or more, corresponding with the number ofplungers 25 used in the machine.

The feed mechanism with its spaced pockets will with each cycle ofoperation, be advanced, the feeding movement ,being an intermittentmovement through the medium of the cam and pawl and ratchet mechanism31', 35, 37 and 39, or 32, 36, 38 and 40, thus feeding the tube withrelation to the plates or frames 15 and 16 either singly or in groups,affording a dwell when the tubes are properly positioned with relationto the plates or frames 15-16, approximating the 7 proximatelyjthreeinches only.

7 which tractedjto the full extent, the ends thereof will be; spacedaway from the horizontal guides 4A andAQ carriecladjacent the plate sv-aqsnificie dista c to permit' he, p a 27 1;to pass the horizontalcenter of; the gear 26$ the q an ty efrthis movem n s h jtna-an isapproaching and passing said center, a fiording an ample; interval forthe gfieedin-g n ovementsof the chains -17 and 1 8, Whic whentwotubesareied will be ap- 1 1.1g: ie lr 1L1); srn.- the chains 1 {and18 will cometo rest iwith'the' ends of thetube or tubesgfrom which thecork rod is to be ejected, between the-horizontal guides 4.1; and t2withthe: axis Qfsuubes i alinem n t he Ope i g in the platesorfra inesl5 and16 respectively a s Substantially simultaneously with the stopp g of thefeeding me hanis the plunger or plungers 25 will engage theplugatthe'end of the tubes and'with a slowinij ovemem ill fo ce; t QJiQ SLIIQ II the t ibes, effectiv y br aki g e I d b w th rod nd; the-wal thtub f e b any 4 01 .b to e the-rod w i be s je t ny1m t i lrpre sure uchas; wou cour; if the init-ial speed; of the phingers were t l. 7' v ithe ope ato plug theret rter each agtuationogt the lee.

e 'odsarc ejected from the tubes, seizes-l them, removes the; end In;and stacksthe rods or delivers them to; somev other mechanism. .;The,empty tubes; upon the, next feeding mmiememt a e rem ved? from the?machine and KQhlll'IlfidqtQthfi pzmker or rstoredl v ;1 As the filledtubes come to position between the guides 41 and 42, and the plates 0 frm s m the: e s o' ea h tube ill engage; ther plate or frame 16 with itsedge projecting slightly-within the edgeof the en uing; n; a plate,thus; affording ampleclearanco in sai'd opening, forthe pas sage of thecork :rod

;.lVh;ile -the feedingmiovement of the tubes with each actuation of thefeeding mechanism, when twoi plungers are used, will: be appronimatelythree inches, the thrust of the Qlungens-is approximately twofeet. Hencethe, machinemust have an-intermiten vdr ve' o h eed ng m c n willeffectthe advance.;.of the tubes lirine hflt ligh t val whe th p tme s avpmech n t,- nd ea h h OIJZ OHtQl "center .of-the crank wheel 26 whilethe pln ngers are completely retracted. Vh-ile it is preferable 1 toremove the filled tubes; (lire ctly from the baker or, vulcanizer, and;deliver them: to the ejecting: machine,

i this "is not essential and theltubes may be stored rafter hremoyalfro] n the, baker or ul;- Since twhen using but a single jlunger theejecting ma-chine is running. at ba .fiif ip emle ts ra-c wh nlcon tionsare such as to require the full'ca-pacity of the machine. two plungers'are used. 11cm however the baker 0r-v-ulcaigiizer is not-runningtocapacity, but one plungeris used. i 31 By gearing the actuating meansfor the feeding mechanism; to the actuating means for the plunger orplungers, said mechanism andsaid plungerslnay be synchronized in theirfunctions with su'liicient accuracy for the purposes of the machine,-thus simplifying: the designof' the machine and avoiding likelihood of acollision of parts through accumulated error which might'occur if thefeeding mechanism and the plungers were actuated from individualsourcesof power.

ltis; not my intention to limit the invention to the details ofconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings. The essentialcharacteristics of the machine ate 'a storage devieeadapted to receivetubesin bulk, an

intermittently operativefieeding mechanism adapted to;automaticallyuremoue the-filled tubes from said; storage. dei iceone ata time l. A cork rod e ector n'iz'i'chine-(- mhod ving therein areciprocatory plunger, oppositely disposed means having ,OPGTHIIQStherethrough adaqptedto guide saidiilungei', and

permit the nassageof a cork rod. fiioinaf tube respectively, awhileholding; tlietuhe against movement with the plunge i; intermittentlyopei ative" feeding means adapted ,to' ac rate] position the tub;oppositely disposed meal 7 "id nieansadapt- 9d tofreceive tubes andposition tl'iei n with relatibn. to. said :Feedin meansrivhereby they\ijllllfijfillfl essiyelv delivered thereto. I 2. A cord rod cjetormachineembodying therein a. plate having); an o ie ning the-rewithrelation {to-said through, the dimensions of Whichare such as to permitthe passageoii af cork rod and to engage the end oithetubeaboutYsaidirod, a reciprocatory plunger, guiding means there} for forho] ding said pllinger in alinmentwvith saidJopening, means nl:ipt e lto, receive packed tnbes iu hulk, an; intci- 1nitumtly op eratiye'.feeding. mechanismadapted to progres velji remove tubes-from said: means11nd p sition theu wi t-h relation to sa i d pl ate, 1

and actnatingv means i'oi said feeding: mocha nism operatia ei while:said plunger isretracted "fronia tube. a '3. A can;rod-g jet machineembodying therein plate having an" openin." there through,thedimensionsoli wl icli are such as to permit the passage of a cork rodand to engage the end of the tube about said rod, a reciprocatoryplunger, guiding means therefor for holding said plunger in alinementwith said opening. means adapted toreceive packed tubes in bulk, feedingmeans having an endless sequence of pockets adapted to receive tubesfrom said last named means and convey them to adjacent said plate andposition them in axial alinement with said plunger, and intermittentlyoperative actuating means for said feeding means whereby feedingmovement will be imparted to the tubes while said plunger is retractedfrom a tube.

4. A cork rod ejector machine embodying therein a plate having anopening therethrough. the dimensions of which are such as to permit thepassage of cork rod and to engage the end of the tube about said rod, areciprocatory plunger, guiding means therefor for holding said plungerin alinement with said opening. an inclined runway upon which tubes maybe deposited in bulk and along which they'may descend by gravity,feeding means having an endless sequence of pockets adapted to be movedacross the plane of said runway, whereby tubes will pass successivelyfrom said runway into the pockets of said feeding means, and be conveyedthereby to adjacent said plate and in axial alinement with said plunger,and intermittently operative actuating means for said feeding meanswhereby feeding movement will be imparted to the tubes while saidplunger isretracted from a tube.

5. A cork rod ejector machine embodying therein aplate; having anopening there through, the dimensions of which are such as to permit thepassage of a. cork rod and to engage the end of the tube about said rod,a reciprocatory plunger, guiding means therefor for holding said plungerin. alinement with said opening, means adapted to receive packed tubesin bulk, oppositely disposed, parallel chains extending from adjacentsaid means to adjacent said plunger. each of said chains having asequence of outwardly extending, pocket forming fingers thereon adaptedto successively engage and remove tubes-from said means and positionthem in axial alinement with said plunger, and intermittently operativeactuating means for said chains whereby the tubes will be conveyed fromsaid means towards said plate with a step by step m'ovement and whilesaid plunger is retracted from a tube.

6. A cork rod ejector machine embodying therein a plate having anopening therethrough, the dimensions of which are such as topermit thepassage of a'cork rod and to engage the end of the tube about said rod,21 reciprocatory plunger, guiding means therefor for holding saidplunger in alinement with said opening, an inclined runway upon whichtubes may be deposited in bulk and along which they may descend bygravity, oppositely disposed. parallel chains crossing the plane of saidrunway and extending across said plate, each of said chains gerls'retracted from a tube.

7. A cork rod ejector machine embodying therein a plate having anopening there through, the dimensions of which are such as to permit thepassage of a cork rod and to engage the end of the tube about said rod,a reciprocatory plunger, guiding means therefor for holding said plungerin alinement with said. opening, means adapted to receive packed tubesin bulk,oppositely disposed, parallel sprocket chains extending fromadjacent said means to adjacent said plunger, each of said chainshavinga sequence of outwardly extending, pocket forming fingers thereonadapted to successively engage and remove tubes from said means andposition them in axial alinement with said plunger, shafts carryingsprocket wheels co-operating with said chains respectively, a ratchetwheel carried by one of said shafts, a swing frame adjacent said ratchetwheel, a pawl carried by said frame and co-operating with said wheel, ashaft counter to said .last named shaft, a cam carried thereby andacting upon said swing frame, and means synchronized with the ac tuatingmeans for said plunger operative upon said cam shaft, said cam being soset as to actuate said swing frame when said plunger is retracted from atube.

8. A cork rod ejector machine embodying therein a reciprocatory plunger,oppositely disposed means having openings therethrough adapted to guidesaid plunger, and [permit the passage of a cork rod from a tube,respectively, while holding the tube against movement with the plunger,guides above and below the openings in each of said means, said guidesbeing spaced apart a dis tance approximating the outside dimension ofthe tubes, intermittently operative feeding means adapted to accuratelyposition the tube with relation to said oppositely disposed means, andmeans adapted to receive tubes and position them with relation to saidfeeding means whereby they will be successively delivered thereto.

9. A cork rod ejector machine embodying therein a reciprocatory plunger,oppositely disposed means having openings therethrough adapted to guidesaid plunger, and

a swing frame adjacent each of said ratchet wheels, a pawl carried byeach of said frames and. cooperating with its associated wheel, a shaftcounter to said last named shaft, a plurality of cams each having risesof different heights carried by said last named shaft and acting uponsaid swing frames respectively, whereby said pawls may be se lectivelyengaged with said ratchet wheels to cause said chains to be advanced toa variable extent with each actuation of said cam shaft and inproportion to the number of piungers carried by said cross head, andmeans synchronized with the actuating means for said cross headoperative upon said cam shaft, each of said cams being so set as toactuate the swing frame associated therewith only when said cross headis positioned so as to retract the plunger or plungers carried therebyfrom the tube or tubes. 14. A cork rod ejector machine embodying thereina plate having an opening therethrough, the dimensions of which are suchas to permit the passage of a cork rod and to engage the end of the tubeabout said rod, a reciprocatory plunger, said plunger being or"relatively smaller diameter than the inside diameter of a tube fromwhich the cork rod is to be ejected, guiding means therefor for holdingsaid plungerin alinement with said opening, means adapted to receivepacked tubes in bulk, an intermittently operative feeding mechanismadapted to progressively remove tubes from said means and position themwith relation to said plate, and actuating means for said feedingmechanism operative while said plunger is retracted from a tube.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses, this 3d day of May, 1921.

CHARLES E. MoMANUS.

